Water Meter Replacement Program
At the Village of Barrington, we are committed to providing accurate and reliable water metering services to our customers. As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the efficiency of our water system, we have implemented a Water Meter Replacement Program. This program aims to upgrade every water meter serviced by the Village and to transition the current meter reading technology to one with enhanced accuracy and improved data collection.
There is NO CHARGE to water customers to replace their meter providing there is access to the water meter according to Village Code. The program will not affect the delivery of your water or your water bill, as the new system will be fully integrated with the Village’s billing system.
The project began at the beginning of 2023 and is ongoing. A letter will be mailed to every water customer with details on how to schedule an appointment to receive a new meter. The letters will be mailed in waves based on priority and location. The initial waves should have already received their letters.
In order to accomplish this program, the Village has contracted with United Meters, Inc. (UMI) to complete the installations. The installations will be conducted by licensed plumbers who work for UMI and have been background checked by the Barrington Police Department. UMI installers will have appropriate UMI photo identification and will be driving marked UMI vehicles.
Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on certain Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Appointments will be made in two-hour windows of time, such as 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. Typically, the installation process takes approximately 30 minutes. An individual 18 years or older must be present during the installation and your water will be shut off during this time. Please note, to achieve maximum efficiency, UMI personnel may come to your door and request to replace your meter if they are in your neighborhood but have not been contacted for an appointment.
If you are unsure about any suspicious activity please do not hesitate to contact the Barrington Police Department.
During the replacement process, we want to ensure transparency and give each customer the opportunity to verify the final reading on their old water meter. We understand the importance of accurate billing so we request that each resident carefully review the readings on their old meter and sign off on the ticket completed by the UMI installer to ensure accuracy.
We appreciate your cooperation during this important project. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact the Barrington Public Works Department at water@barrington-il.gov or by phone at (847) 304-3362.
Billing After Meter Replacement
The Meter Reading section of your bill will consist of two line items. One line will provide the meter readings and consumption (Cons) for your old meter. The final reading on this line of your bill should match the final reading on the UMI ticket. The second line in the Meter Reading section of your bill provides the meter readings and consumption for your new meter. The previous reading on this line on your bill will be 0 and the consumption represents the gallons (in thousands) of water used from the date the new meter was installed until the reading date at the end of the month. A sample bill illustrates this below.
Some accounts have been estimated prior to meter replacement. If your account was estimated, the first bill received after the meter is replaced will include a true-up. The true-up calculates the gallons of water used between the time the last reading was electronically transmitted to the Village and the final reading on the meter at the time the meter was replaced, LESS any gallons estimated during that period.
Should you have any water billing questions, please contact Utility Billing at (847) 304-3430.